Partnership in Action

PartnershipsInAction is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and its network of volunteers across the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for innovative programs that create hope and opportunity for disadvantaged communities in the developing world. Through the PartnershipsInAction initiative, the Foundation and its volunteers organize events across the nation to help create a more peaceful and prosperous future for people around the world.
Thank You to all who donated, and to those who didn't, you can make it up next year! After lots of research on which charities Rob and I should support, we found that this is one of our favorites. It has a broad scope and reaches people all around the world. It is organized by volunteers so 100% of donations go to the cause, not to administration. We love the walk every year at Lake Eola where they set up tents, and booths, have entertainment and lots of yummy food.
Sadly this year we didn't have as much fun. Kaden toppled out of his stroller after someone carelessly put him in without strapping him in. He had his first bloody nose. It was so sad to see him in pain with blood everywhere. We are very blessed though because he could have had a much much worse injury, instead he left with a few scrapes and a few days later he was no worse for wear.
My sweet little baby boy, I am so sorry. I love you so very much and will make sure never to leave you in such a vulnerable position again.

43 and done

I have a sore tailbone and my fingertips are raw, they are actually about to divorce my hands as I type this. For the last four days I have done nothing but sit and write. As a die-hard procrastinator I had no choice but to complete my entire assignment (assigned 4 months ago) from top to bottom in this fashion. Every time in my life that I have put off a monumental task and scrambled to finish it in the last minute, I look back and think ‘that wasn’t so bad, I should have saved my self all the stress and just done it earlier’ but alas you cannot deny who you are in your core and again I succumbed to months of stress culminating in one heroic effort to accomplish the impossible in the final minutes.  However, this time was different because it took more than a few long nights and constant stream of coffee. An army was needed this time; a full cast of supporting members. Kids make it impossible to focus for more than 30 seconds at a time. While Aliya was in school Mom R came and took care of Kaden. On Saturday, both Mom B and Mom R took the kids to the zoo so I could work in a quite house. Mom took Aliya back to Deland and on Sunday Maa came to take care of Kaden, missing a madjalis in the process. Rob read and reread my paper, supported the caregivers and brought me tea. I never would have finished without all of them.

               It’s weird because once I started I was 100% dedicated to completing. There was no half way, I made my decision and stuck to it. I tend to do that, go all in, when I finally make a decision. I am so very indecisive until the point of commitment. At the grocery store, the other day, I stood in front of the chicken broth for 3 minutes contemplating whether to buy low sodium or regular, I was torn between health and flavor, after the 3 minutes I ended up with one carton of each. On the other hand, when I finally went car shopping, I only test drove the car I picked, decided it was the one and stuck to my decision. I think I have a harder time with decisions because I commit completely to them.  Rob has learned it is a bad idea to send me down the ice cream aisle in Publix. The different sizes, flavors, quality, price, my favs, robs favs, aliyas favs, the new flavors, the old stand bys, excreta all contribute to my decision. I literally and figuratively freeze trying to decide what to buy. The whole wall of choices leaves me completely clueless. After 20 minutes I am still left without a hint and either end up with plain jane vanilla or a cart full of different kinds.

Btw- I completed my project and finished with a 43 page paper! That’s the longest I have written to date. Second longest - 26 pages. Did you see that… Fourty-Three pages! I never knew I had it in me. Rob of course will write an even longer paper, get a higher grade and spend a quarter of the time doing it!

Eid Mubarak

Fellini

Ali got a hold of the camera and these are her first pictures. She had the camera facing her but was trying to take pictures of Rob and I. She had us say 'cheese' for each one of these shots, silly girl.

Halloween

The entire neighborhood could have solely trick or treated at our house after Halloween and we would still have too much candy.  Aliya loved trick or treating, and was able to go 4 times! Once at school, once at Sea World, at the mall and in the neighborhood. Sometimes she wanted to be fairy princess and then she decided on ladybug, either way she was cute. Our little pumpkin was oblivious to trick or treating and just came along for the ride. They were the sweetest treats of all.

Trick or Treating at School

 
At Sea World

 At the mall

 In our neighborhood

Post trick or treating wind down

Pumpkin Patch and Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens had set up a pumpkin patch for the kids to run through. Ali couldn't pick a pumpkin if her life depended on it. She'd pick one up then drop it for the next one, 20 pumpkins later we were still pumpkinless. I see so much of me in her. The same indecisiveness, maybe that one is better, its rounder but this one is a prettier orange, but this one has a nicer stem and this one sits flatter... and on and on. So I get her, I get everything about her. She is mine, from her basic genetic makeup, she is mine.

There is no denying the passage of time. When I first bought the Busch Gardens passes Aliya was just a little older than Kaden is now. On this most recent trip the time lapse was so apparent because she was now riding the rides on her own. All by herself. Without anyone. And she was laughing the whole time!

 Notice anything wrong with this picture?

Happy Birthday Rob and Happy half Birthday Kaden

Sometimes we dread the day coming closer because it means another year gone and added on you tally but it also means another year of life lived, another year of life experienced and another full year of memories. Since Robs last birthday our son was born, our daughter has flourished into this little independent being, we have laughed, and travelled, and spent so much time together, every second holding its weight as a second worth being used from our finite number. So indeed it is a Happy Birthday that he gets to share as a half birthday with Kaden. Kaden in the last 6 months has turned into the sweetest baby ever, giving his coy smiles and hiding his face melts me into a puddle on the floor. He has gained 8 pounds, more than doubling his birth weight. Kaden lost all but a few of his hair and it has since almost fully grown back and in the last six months he has wiggled his way into every crevice of my heart and has totally become a member of our family. Love and love and love to my two guys. Happy Birthdays!

Kaden

I haven't written about Kaden enough and it makes me feel so guilty because he is beyond worth writing about. Kaden is the sweetest baby that there ever was. He never cries or fusses, seriously. I have never felt as loved as I do when he looks at me, his whole face lights up and he just glows when he sees me. The kid is always smiling and is just so happy, all the time; Inspiring.
Kaden loves toys! He is fantastic with his hands and is always playing with a toy, paper or anything he can grab on to. He can pass things from one hand to the other and brings the objects to his mouth.
He has started to eat baby food and loves it! Peas and sweet potatoes are his favorite. He likes bananas but isn't as crazy about apple and pears. Its hard to feed him because he gets so excited about the food he jumps toward it and snaps his mouth quickly like a little turtle.
Kaden is really into tv! He will turn all the way around to watch it if its on. Silly boy!
He can easily turn from his back to his stomach and back again.
Kaden is not the best sleeper, he wakes up between 4 and 5 am for an hour or two, just to kick his legs, talk and be awake. Then he likes to fall asleep right as Aliya is waking up, which is very hard for me!
He also has such a hard time falling asleep for naps but goes down easy for bed time around 7:15. He can sit up with support and is getting better and better at it every day. I love him with my entire heart and it hurts sometimes when I see him because all that love doesn't fit. He is really just the most amazing baby. I am so very proud of him and so in love with every tiny little perfect piece of him.